Syncthing
Open-source continuous file synchronization tool that syncs folders directly between devices, peer-to-peer.
Loved for syncing KeePass databases123, dotfiles and phone files across devices456 without a cloud service.789 The most common caveat is turmoil around the Android client,101112 plus occasional sync conflicts.131415
Why people recommend it
KeePass sync · 3
A popular way to keep a KeePass database in sync across desktop and phone.
“I've been using keepass+syncthing for years, and I've never had any issues.”
“it works very well, and I sync between phone/laptop/desktop without any third parties”
Show 1 more
“I switched from Bitwarden to KeepassXC / KeepassDX / Syncthing”
Device backups · 3
Used to copy phone files, photos and important data to servers, NAS boxes and relatives' PCs.
“I use syncthing, which will backup on my pc, on my parents pc”
“I use syncthing to a NAS, and the syncthing data being backed up by the NAS”
Show 1 more
“Put important stuff in a SyncThing folder and sync that out to 2 different nodes.”
Cloud replacement · 3
Several commenters replaced Dropbox or Google Drive with it to avoid third-party clouds.
“syncthing replaced dropbox for me.”
“I used to use Google Drive, but now I use Syncthing, further reducing my exposure.”
Show 1 more
“Syncthing/Synctrain + my apps allow me to keep everything on my private network”
Dotfiles syncing · 3
Syncs dotfiles and configs across machines, removing the git commit, push and pull routine.
“I use syncthing to automatically sync my dotfiles git directory across PC/laptops”
“and then added syncthing because the push + pull dance got too annoying. Really happy with it.”
Show 1 more
“I've been using chezmoi + Syncthing for about a year now.”
Runs unattended · 3
Works as a background service that syncs automatically without needing attention.
“Syncthing to automatically sync files between the phone and my home server”
Show 1 more
“All my photo syncing happens automatically via sync thing”
Game saves · 2
Keeps ROMs and saves in sync across retro handhelds and other devices.
“Having syncthing on-device means I'll never lose my saves again”
“I love using Syncthing for syncing all my ROMs and saves across my handhelds”
Caveats and dissent
Android client · 3
The Android client's end of official development and the ownership transfer of its fork worried or drove away users.
“with the constant death and forking of Syncthing on Android, it became unusable”
“being able to just run syncthing from the command line is a breath of fresh air.”
Show 1 more
“I use Syncthing and have for many years”
File conflicts · 3
Conflicts still happen occasionally, and there is no automatic conflict resolution.
“I started using Syncthing and KeePass. File version conflicts are rare but still happen.”
“started using [Syncthing](https://syncthing.net/) to sync my [KeepassXC](https://keepassxc.org/). It works pretty well”
Show 1 more
“I stay away from sync: problems with permissions, git repo, conflict, incomplete sync status in syncthing etc.”
Tedious setup · 1
Adding folders was described as tedious.
“the Syncthing setup for adding folders is pretty tedious”
Not a backup · 1
Sync can replicate corrupted data, so it needs separate snapshots or backups.
“make due with the "least bad" option of syncthing”
Often compared with
3 moved from Dropbox to Syncthing
2 moved from Google Drive to Syncthing
1 moved from Syncthing to LocalSend
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Bitwarden Dual License Model 3 mentions
- Ask HN: What do you run on a $5 VPS that's worth keeping online 24/7? 3 mentions
- Creating backup storage sucks 3 mentions
- Syncthing-Android have had a change of owner/maintainer 3 mentions
- What I self-host 2 mentions
- How do I permanently disable Google Photos pop-up prompt to backup my photos? 2 mentions
Data: syncthing.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 43
“I use both Restic and Syncthing.”
“I've been using keepass+syncthing for years, and I've never had any issues.”
“syncthing and KeepassDx also works suprisingly well”
“with the constant death and forking of Syncthing on Android, it became unusable”
“I use SyncTrain on my phone to connect to my SyncThing network.”
“at one point was messing around with https://syncthing.net/ for a self-hosted form of Dropbox”
“languagetool, nextcloud, hister, syncthing, restic backups, vaultwarden, windmill”
“- Syncthing”
“But I used to use SyncThing for sync.”
“I can run syncthing on it and just drop music into a folder on my desktop which will automatically get picked up by the device”
“I use it and rely on it”
“I use syncthing from my server to android. Seamless and configurable how I want it.”
“Syncthing to automatically sync files between the phone and my home server”
“I use syncthing, which will backup on my pc, on my parents pc”
“I stay away from sync: problems with permissions, git repo, conflict, incomplete sync status in syncthing etc.”
“I use syncthing to a NAS, and the syncthing data being backed up by the NAS”
“make due with the "least bad" option of syncthing”
“From there, I use Syncthing. But I'm thinking about replacing it with rsync”
“it works very well, and I sync between phone/laptop/desktop without any third parties”
“Backups are through Syncthing”
“I had previously been using syncthing to sync & backup the photos”
“I've installed Syncthing and a few other small niceties”
“then synced to my computer with syncthing”
“Now I use syncthing (no cloud needed)”
“syncthing replaced dropbox for me.”
“weekly backups of all my app+data which then gets Syncthing'd to a server”
“I use syncthing to sync a folder with my laptop”
“I used to use Dropbox but now I use Syncthing.”
“I've been using chezmoi + Syncthing for about a year now.”
“start with syncthing which is decentralized and even more useful”
“I started using Syncthing and KeePass. File version conflicts are rare but still happen.”
“Syncthing sync our photos back to the homelab server hosting immich”
“Syncthing to sync important data between the workstation and laptop”
“I used to use Google Drive, but now I use Syncthing, further reducing my exposure.”
“and then added syncthing because the push + pull dance got too annoying. Really happy with it.”
“I use syncthing to automatically sync my dotfiles git directory across PC/laptops”
“Syncthing/Synctrain + my apps allow me to keep everything on my private network”
“Just switched to KeepassXC and syncthing.”
“Synchronizing with Syncthing works well enough both on desktops and smartphones.”
“I switched from Bitwarden to KeepassXC / KeepassDX / Syncthing”
“being able to just run syncthing from the command line is a breath of fresh air.”
“started using [Syncthing](https://syncthing.net/) to sync my [KeepassXC](https://keepassxc.org/). It works pretty well”
“I love using Syncthing for syncing all my ROMs and saves across my handhelds”